Jenna Decker Current Health Issues Among Teens “Choking Game” Otherwise known as the “strangle game” or “passout,” this so called ‘game’ is becoming more popular over the years. It has been spread throughout 31 states so far, and unfortunately is becoming a substitute for other risk behaviors among teens. In 2008, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 82 child and adolescent deaths occurred between 1995 and 2007, all linked to this act. Passout, is another way of ‘getting high’ without the risk of getting caught with drugs or alcohol. Children choke themselves or each other with the hands or a noose, until they blackout. The unavoidable reality though is that this can lead to seizures, headaches, bone breaks, brain injury and even death. Sarah Ramowski, a specialist for Adolescent Health Policy and Assessment, conducted a study that found kids who have engaged in this behavior are much more likely to also have engaged in other health risk behaviors, have mental health problems or have abused substances. The signs to look for if a teen has been participating in this game are : unexplained marks on the neck, bloodshot eyes, bleeding under the skin on the face (especially eyelids), or disorientation after being alone. Obesity and less exercise The U.S. is the most overweight country in the world, it’s been proven. If you look around you at any specific place, more than likely you will find at least 1 or 2 Americans that are overweight. A popular New Year’s Resolution is to exercise more, loose weight or get in better shape, but many will start this just as fast as they stop. Only about half of Americans exercise the suggested amount (30 minutes a day for about 3 days a week), and unfortunately those numbers keep declining. According to a survey by the Gallup-Heathway’s Well-Being Index, among obese Americans, 40.4% said they do not exercise for at least 30 minutes a day during any given day of the week. Those statistics are drastically higher than those non-exercisers in the overall study. It is not only important to exercise to keep yourself healthy, but to avoid any health risks later in life that can be life-threatening. Teens have a hard time avoiding all the influences. Most go to school, go to a job and then have a limited amount of time to do homework once they’re home. An easy way to get a dinner for them is to hit a fast-food restaurant, a very poor choice. It’s almost an unavoidable reality to teens, there are fast food restaurants everywhere you look and more are being built. Those participating in sports, the exercise there may be the only workout they get. I don’t think working out is fun, but it is a necessity for anyone’s health. However, there are alternatives to exercising such as eating a lower calorie based diet and watching what you eat. Preventative measures can be taken and Americans need to get on board. Alcohol Abuse In high school you can find a party almost any weekend you want, and more than likely alcohol would be there. It is a hard pressure to resist during these years, mostly because the first use of alcohol usually begins around the age of 13. Approximately 64% of high school students say that they have been drunk at least once. 33% say they have been drunk in the past month. Along with drinking, there are many accidents and problems involved. Those who heavily drink, 77% had at least one serious problem related to drinking in the past year. It is said that some 3 million American teenagers will develop a serious alcohol problem. Alcohol can lead to many health issues, such as depression which for teens many times can lead to suicide. The federal government compared those without alcohol dug use to those with drinking problems and found that students who have used are likely to miss 2 more weeks of school, 4 times more likely to be arrested or booked for breaking the law and 2 and ½ times as likely to run away or sleep on the streets. We do not need to see America’s youth downfall for something such as this, but as it is becoming a bigger problem, more prevention needs to come into play. Sexual Behavior and STD’s Teenage pregnancies, STD’s, and sexual behavior in high school are unfortunately a reality. Many things can put teenagers at risk for HIV or any other sexually transmitted disease. In 2007, 48% of high school students had sexual intercourse, and of that 48%, 15%had had four or more sexual partners so far. As those numbers are rapidly growing, so is the chance that more students can contract an STD. 39% of sexually active teens did not use a condom or any protection during their last sexual intercourse, an astonishing number knowing the risks it poses. Many high schooler’s think that oral sex can be a substitute and less of a risk, but in reality you can get an STD from oral sex just as easily as you can from intercourse. So far 55% of males and 54% of females ages 15-19 had engaged in oral sex. Teenage pregnancies are also growing,
Current Health Issues Among Teens
“Choking Game”
Otherwise known as the “strangle game” or “passout,” this so called ‘game’ is becoming more popular over the years. It has been spread throughout 31 states so far, and unfortunately is becoming a substitute for other risk behaviors among teens. In 2008, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 82 child and adolescent deaths occurred between 1995 and 2007, all linked to this act. Passout, is another way of ‘getting high’ without the risk of getting caught with drugs or alcohol. Children choke themselves or each other with the hands or a noose, until they blackout. The unavoidable reality though is that this can lead to seizures, headaches, bone breaks, brain injury and even death.
Sarah Ramowski, a specialist for Adolescent Health Policy and Assessment, conducted a study that found kids who have engaged in this behavior are much more likely to also have engaged in other health risk behaviors, have mental health problems or have abused substances. The signs to look for if a teen has been participating in this game are : unexplained marks on the neck, bloodshot eyes, bleeding under the skin on the face (especially eyelids), or disorientation after being alone.
Obesity and less exercise
The U.S. is the most overweight country in the world, it’s been proven. If you look around you at any specific place, more than likely you will find at least 1 or 2 Americans that are overweight. A popular New Year’s Resolution is to exercise more, loose weight or get in better shape, but many will start this just as fast as they stop. Only about half of Americans exercise the suggested amount (30 minutes a day for about 3 days a week), and unfortunately those numbers keep declining. According to a survey by the Gallup-Heathway’s Well-Being Index, among obese Americans, 40.4% said they do not exercise for at least 30 minutes a day during any given day of the week. Those statistics are drastically higher than those non-exercisers in the overall study. It is not only important to exercise to keep yourself healthy, but to avoid any health risks later in life that can be life-threatening.
Teens have a hard time avoiding all the influences. Most go to school, go to a job and then have a limited amount of time to do homework once they’re home. An easy way to get a dinner for them is to hit a fast-food restaurant, a very poor choice. It’s almost an unavoidable reality to teens, there are fast food restaurants everywhere you look and more are being built. Those participating in sports, the exercise there may be the only workout they get. I don’t think working out is fun, but it is a necessity for anyone’s health. However, there are alternatives to exercising such as eating a lower calorie based diet and watching what you eat. Preventative measures can be taken and Americans need to get on board.
Alcohol Abuse
In high school you can find a party almost any weekend you want, and more than likely alcohol would be there. It is a hard pressure to resist during these years, mostly because the first use of alcohol usually begins around the age of 13. Approximately 64% of high school students say that they have been drunk at least once. 33% say they have been drunk in the past month. Along with drinking, there are many accidents and problems involved. Those who heavily drink, 77% had at least one serious problem related to drinking in the past year. It is said that some 3 million American teenagers will develop a serious alcohol problem. Alcohol can lead to many health issues, such as depression which for teens many times can lead to suicide. The federal government compared those without alcohol dug use to those with drinking problems and found that students who have used are likely to miss 2 more weeks of school, 4 times more likely to be arrested or booked for breaking the law and 2 and ½ times as likely to run away or sleep on the streets. We do not need to see America’s youth downfall for something such as this, but as it is becoming a bigger problem, more prevention needs to come into play.
Sexual Behavior and STD’s
Teenage pregnancies, STD’s, and sexual behavior in high school are unfortunately a reality. Many things can put teenagers at risk for HIV or any other sexually transmitted disease. In 2007, 48% of high school students had sexual intercourse, and of that 48%, 15% had had four or more sexual partners so far. As those numbers are rapidly growing, so is the chance that more students can contract an STD. 39% of sexually active teens did not use a condom or any protection during their last sexual intercourse, an astonishing number knowing the risks it poses. Many high schooler’s think that oral sex can be a substitute and less of a risk, but in reality you can get an STD from oral sex just as easily as you can from intercourse. So far 55% of males and 54% of females ages 15-19 had engaged in oral sex. Teenage pregnancies are also growing,